Santa Fe Five-Time Winner Hyundai’s all-new premium flagship sedan – the Azera – has won the Large Car category in this year’s AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards, in addition to achieving the highest overall car satisfaction score. The Hyundai Santa Fe also outperformed the competition, topping the Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle category.

“The satisfaction results for the all-new Hyundai Azera prove that Hyundai is serious about selling top class products,” said Auto Pacific’s president, George Peterson. “In its first year on the market, Azera achieves not only a class win, but the highest scoring passenger car ahead of vaunted Premium Luxury Cars like the Lexus LS, Jaguar XJ and Mercedes S-Class. The fact that these cars are twice the price of an Azera is just icing on the cake.”

“The entire Hyundai team is pleased to have the Azera as the highest rated car in 2006 and Santa Fe named as the Vehicle Satisfaction Award winner once again,” said John Krafcik, vice president, Product Development and Strategic Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “We all understand that customer satisfaction is an ongoing process and these awards signify that the entire organization is working toward making sure that each Hyundai vehicle exceeds customers’ expectations for safety, value and reliability.”

“In its last year before being replaced, the Hyundai Santa Fe continues its string of category-leading performances,” Peterson said. “Santa Fe has won or tied in its category for five of the six years it has been on the market. This is a testament of Santa Fe’s strong combination of product competence, value and warranty. Santa Fe satisfies its owners and continues to help Hyundai build its brand in the United States."

AutoPacific’s Vehicle Satisfaction Awards are driven by data collected from more than 24,000 buyers and lessees of new vehicles acquired September-December 2005. Buyer and lessees rate 45 attributes related to a vehicle's operation, comfort, safety and the overall purchase/lease experience. The awards recognize vehicles in 18 different segment categories. A complete description of scoring methodology and a list of all winners can be found at www.autopacific.com.

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 700 dealerships nationwide.